Menstrual cycle, pregnancy and oral contraceptive use alter attraction to apparent health in faces. (17/122)

Previous studies demonstrating changes in women's face preferences have emphasized increased attraction to cues to possible indirect benefits (e.g. heritable immunity to infection) that coincides with periods of high fertility (e.g. the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle). By contrast, here we show that when choosing between composite faces with raised or lowered apparent health, women's preferences for faces that are perceived as healthy are (i) stronger during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle than during the late follicular, fertile phase, (ii) stronger in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women and (iii) stronger in women using oral contraceptives than in women with natural menstrual cycles. Change in preference for male faces was greater for short- than long-term relationships. These findings indicate raised progesterone level is associated with increased attraction to facial cues associated with possible direct benefits (e.g. low risk of infection) and suggest that women's face preferences are influenced by adaptations that compensate for weakened immune system responses during pregnancy and reduce the risk of infection disrupting foetal development.  (+info)

The influence of mandibular prominence on facial attractiveness. (18/122)

This study examined the attractiveness of facial profiles. One hundred and two social science students (28 males and 74 females) rated the attractiveness of a series of silhouettes with normal, Class II or Class III profiles. A random sequence of 10 images included an image with the Eastman normal SNB value of 78 degrees, and images with SNB values of 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 degrees above and below normal. A duplicate image in each sequence was used to assess reproducibility. The participants scored the attractiveness of each image and also indicated whether they would seek treatment if each image was their own profile. The profile with the normal SNB angle of 78 degrees was rated as the most attractive. Attractiveness scores reduced as the mandibular profile diverged from the normal SNB value. The +5 degree profile (SNB = 83 degrees) was rated as significantly more attractive than the -5 degree profile (SNB = 73 degrees; P = 0.004). No other significant differences between the scores for Class II and Class III profile pairs of equal severity were found. At 10 degrees below the normal SNB (Class II), 74 per cent of the sample would elect to have treatment, while 78 per cent would elect to have treatment at 10 degrees above the normal SNB (Class III).  (+info)

Perceptions of facial aesthetics in two and three dimensions. (19/122)

The aims of this study were to investigate whether the preferred facial relationship chosen by professionals and the general public is Class I and to ascertain whether viewing two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) images had any effect on the ranking of facial attractiveness. Orthodontists (n = 47), maxillofacial surgeons (n = 25) and members of the general public (n = 78) assessed 2D and 3D facial scans of two males and two females that had been morphed to produce five images reflecting different skeletal patterns: Class I, mild and moderate Class II, and mild and moderate Class III. Each assessor placed the images in rank order of preference, after viewing alternate 2D and 3D image formats for each face. The data were analysed using logistic regression. In 2D, professionals (orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons) chose Class I as the preferred facial image more frequently than the general public for only one of the four faces. However, in 3D format they chose Class I as the preferred facial image for some subject faces more, and others less, frequently when compared with the general public. The gender of the assessor was not significant when assessing the preferred facial relationship for Class I images in either 2D or 3D formats. The oldest assessors (56+ years) were significantly less likely than the younger age groups to select Class I as the preferred facial relationship in both 2D and 3D. In summary, there was too great a degree of variation to say that a difference between 2D and 3D facial images was evident.  (+info)

The influence of lower face vertical proportion on facial attractiveness. (20/122)

This study investigated the influence of changing lower face vertical proportion on the attractiveness ratings scored by lay people.Ninety-two social science students rated the attractiveness of a series of silhouettes with normal, reduced or increased lower face proportions. The random sequences of 10 images included an image with the Eastman normal lower face height relative to total face height [lower anterior face height/total anterior face height (LAFH/TAFH) of 55 per cent], and images with LAFH/TAFH increased or decreased by up to four standard deviations (SD) from the Eastman norm. All the images had a skeletal Class I antero-posterior (AP) relationship. A duplicate image in each sequence assessed repeatability. The participants scored each image using a 10 point numerical scale and also indicated whether they would seek treatment if the image was their own profile. The profile image with normal vertical facial proportions was rated by the lay people as the most attractive. Attractiveness scores reduced as the vertical facial proportions diverged from the normal value. Images with a reduced lower face proportion were rated as significantly more attractive than the corresponding images with an increased lower face proportion. Images with a reduced lower face proportion were also significantly less likely to be judged as needing treatment than the corresponding images with an increased lower face proportion.  (+info)

Trustworthy but not lust-worthy: context-specific effects of facial resemblance. (21/122)

If humans are sensitive to the costs and benefits of favouring kin in different circumstances, a strong prediction is that cues of relatedness will have a positive effect on prosocial feelings, but a negative effect on sexual attraction. Indeed, positive effects of facial resemblance (a potential cue of kinship) have been demonstrated in prosocial contexts. Alternatively, such effects may be owing to a general preference for familiar stimuli. Here, I show that subtly manipulated images of other-sex faces were judged as more trustworthy by the participants they were made to resemble than by control participants. In contrast, the effects of resemblance on attractiveness were significantly lower. In the context of a long-term relationship, where both prosocial regard and sexual appeal are important criteria, facial resemblance had no effect. In the context of a short-term relationship, where sexual appeal is the dominant criterion, facial resemblance decreased attractiveness. The results provide evidence against explanations implicating a general preference for familiar-looking stimuli and suggest instead that facial resemblance is a kinship cue to which humans modulate responses in a context-sensitive manner.  (+info)

Ranking facial attractiveness. (22/122)

The first aim of this investigation was to assemble a group of photographs of 30 male and 30 female faces representing a standardized spectrum of facial attractiveness, against which orthognathic treatment outcomes could be compared. The second aim was to investigate the influence of the relationship between ANB differences and anterior lower face height (ALFH) percentages on facial attractiveness. The initial sample comprised standardized photographs of 41 female and 35 male Caucasian subjects. From these, the photographs of two groups of 30 male and 30 female subjects were compiled. A panel of six clinicians and six non-clinicians ranked the photographs. The results showed there to be a good level of reliability for each assessor when ranking the photographs on two occasions, particularly for the clinicians (female subjects r = 0.76-0.97, male subjects r = 0.72-0.94). Agreement among individuals within each group was also high, particularly when ranking facial attractiveness in male subjects (female subjects r = 0.57-0.84, male subjects r = 0.91-0.94). Antero-posterior (AP) discrepancies, as measured by soft tissue ANB, showed minimal correlation with facial attractiveness. However, a trend emerged that would suggest that in faces where the ANB varies widely from 5 degrees, the face is considered less attractive. The ALFH percentage also showed minimal correlation with facial attractiveness. However, there was a trend that suggested that greater ALFH percentages are considered less attractive in female faces, while in males the opposite trend was seen. Either of the two series of ranked photographs as judged by clinicians and non-clinicians could be used as a standard against which facial attractiveness could be assessed, as both were in total agreement about the most attractive faces. However, to judge the outcome of orthognathic treatment, the series of ranked photographs produced by the non-clinician group should be used as the 'standard' to reflect lay opinion.  (+info)

Shape analysis of female facial attractiveness. (23/122)

Previous studies have suggested that female facial attractiveness is associated with exaggerated sex-specific facial traits and averageness. Here we applied geometric morphometrics, a method for multivariate statistical analysis of shape, to measure geometric averageness and geometric sexual dimorphism of natural female face profiles. Geometric averageness and geometric sexual dimorphism correlate with attractiveness ratings. However, principal component analysis extracted a shape component robustly correlated with attractiveness but independent of sexual dimorphism. The shape differences between attractive- and hyperfeminine traits are localised: attractive facial shape and sexual dimorphism are similar in the upper face, but are markedly distinct in the jaw and chin.  (+info)

Botulinum toxin A during pregnancy: a survey of treating physicians. (24/122)

Botulinum toxin A (btxA) is widely used for cosmetic purposes, headaches, dystonia, spasticity, pain and other on and off label uses. Despite the widespread use of btxA in women of childbearing potential, there are few data on the effects of this drug on pregnant women and the fetus. The goal of this study was to survey physicians who use btxA, to determine their experience with pregnant women. We surveyed 900 physicians who used commercially available btxA. The questionnaire asked treating physicians if they had knowingly or unknowingly injected pregnant women and what was the outcome of each pregnancy. In total, 396 physicians (44%) returned questionnaires, of whom only 12 physicians reported injecting pregnant women with btxA. Sixteen pregnant women were injected, mostly in the first trimester, and only one patient, who had prior spontaneous abortions, suffered a miscarriage. Another woman had a therapeutic abortion. All other pregnancies went to term and there were no fetal malformations. Based on this limited survey of treating physicians in the USA, btxA appears to be relatively safe for both expectant mother and fetus. We need further data, however, and we would recommend that physicians and patients carefully consider the risks and benefits before using btxA in pregnant women.  (+info)